What seemed inevitable has apparently arrived… Novak Đoković failed to advance to the second round of the Grand Slam. He lost in the first round of the US Open to Argentina’s Navone 7:6, 5:7, 4:6, 6:2, 6:1.

Nothing suggested such an ending. Nothing suggested such torment. Nothing suggested that we would watch a great champion helplessly cry on the “Arthur Ashe” Stadium court because his body was saying it could go no further. At 3:1 in the fifth set, the crowd stood and thunderously shouted: “Novak, Novak!”, but Novak could no longer continue. The body of that 39-year-old seemed to be telling everyone – enough is enough.

No one can cheat their birth certificate, and neither will Nole. But we have to say this: what he has given us borders on madness. It is not “normal,” and for that we thank him!

He was sent off the “Arthur Ashe” Stadium court with an ovation, this time truly – perhaps for the last time.

It started quite routinely, with Novak Đoković breaking serve and taking a 4:1 lead. And then Nole stopped, while Navone began to play, winning three games in a row to level at 4:4. From there, they traded games, and then in an exciting tie-break, Nole had his chances, but simply could not convert them.

It hinted at a long night, but not at a night that would end in tears.

What hurt the most throughout the first two sets was that we saw no reaction from Đoković at all.

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Source: Sportal Foto: Agencije

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